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The Power of Sound Magazine of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Australasian Section No: 141 September 2021 THE POWER OF SOUND What are Mantras? Thoughts on a Quote from Tolstoy’s, ‘War and Peace’ Mantras: Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity, and Stories of God(s) AUM (Om): The Word Sound and Vibration in Traditional Societies: Australia and Africa The Seven Jewels of Wisdom: REN’ (‘The Name’): The Power of Speech The Virtue of Courage 28 3 What are Mantras? 5 The Potency of Sound – G de Purucker. 8 Thoughts on a Quote from Tolstoy’s, ‘War and Peace’ – Amanda F. Rooke. 10 Mantras: Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity, and Stories of God(s). 18 AUM (Om): The Word - Graeme Edge. 19 Sound and Vibration in Traditional Societies: Australia and Africa. 8 20 The Seven Jewels of Wisdom: Reincarnation, Karma, Hierarchies, Self-Becoming, Evolution, Two Paths, Knowledge of the Self - The First Jewel: Reincarnation. 22 Better Health: • Qi Gong Classes. • Sleep and Depression. 24 ‘REN’ (‘The Name’): The Power of Speech - Normandi Ellis. 28 The Virtue of Courage – James Feinstein. 19 29 News 31 Book Reviews: • The Goddess Re-Awakening: The Feminine Principle Today. Compiled by Shirley Nicholson. Reviewed by Niamh O’Byrne. • Every time I Find the Meaning of Life: They Change It. By Daniel Klein. Reviewed by Tony Downey. 35 Religions in a Nutshell: The Religions of Japan: Complete back Shinto and Zen. issues to the year 2000 available 39 Obituary: Marjorie Maud Downey. 10 at our website: 39 Letters to the Editor: www.theosophy- • How Can I Meditate or Chant Mantras in this downunder.org Hectic Modern World? -Krishna Das. All contributions • Soul versus Spirit – Eugene Harris. on Theosophy or • Lockdown Amplifies the Simple Sounds - Jennifer related subjects Pignataro. • Waiting for a Sign. are welcome. 2 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 WHAT ARE MANTRAS? n this issue several authors look at sacred sounds, including ‘Mantras’, and how they can be applied to assist in building a better, more enlightened world. Theosophical teacher, G de Purucker, Iwrites of ‘The Potency of Sound’ and vibration including the famous mantra, ‘AUM (Om)’, and the use of vibration by the Hierarchy of Light to protect mankind with the mysterious ‘Guardian Wall’. Graeme Edge and James Feinstein put a poetic perspective on the powers of sound. Normandi Ellis turns our mind to the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians and their profound knowledge of the power of the ‘Name’. Our feature article deals in depth with ‘Mantras, Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity and Stories of the God(s) and Goddess(s)’. But what are Mantras from a theosophical point of view? “Mantra (Sanskrit) Mantra. That portion of the Vedas which consist of hymns as distinct from the Brahmana and Upanishad portions. The mantras considered esoterically were originally as magical as they were religious in character, although the former today is virtually forgotten, although remembered as a fact which once was. In the composing of the mantras the rishis (sages) of old knew that every letter had its occult significance, and that the vowels especially contain occult and even formidable potencies when properly chanted. The words of the SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 3 mantra were made to convey a certain hid meaning by certain secret rules involving first the secret potency of their sound, and incidentally the numerical value of the letters; the latter however was relatively unimportant. Hence their merely verbal significance is something quite different from their meaning as understood of old. The language of incantations or mantras is the element-language composed of sounds, numbers, and figures. He who knows how to blend the three will call forth the response from the regent-god of the specific element needed. For, in order to communicate with the gods, men must learn to address each one of them in the language of his element. Sound is “the most potent and effectual magic agent, and the first of the keys which opens the door of communication between Mortals and the Immortals” (SD 1:464)…” – from the Encyclopedic Theosophic Glossary at: https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/etgloss/man-mar.htm Let’s go ahead and look at what ‘the divine potency of sound’ means in detail. As always, your feedback plus is always welcome to: [email protected] The concept that the manifest universe is built of varying levels of vibration was well-known in the mystery schools of the ancient world. From atoms to suns, each entity sings its own keynote of life, and by sounds inaudible to our ears because of their magnitude, follow their paths of destiny. – Mysteries of Music: Part 1: The Ancient World (2017); Theosophy Downunder Website 4 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 THE POWER OF SOUND – G. de Purucker as H.P.B. phrases it, "I am in Thee, and Thou art in me." When intoned with an understanding of what he Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum: In the it represents, and with a yearning of the heart and Tibetan Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme mind always toward union with the divine within, Hum, Om, the Jewel in the Lotus, the lotus it has a strong effect in purifying one's channels of Tflower is the human being, the soul, likewise the en- thought and keeping one's aspirations constantly tire constitution of man; more accurately, his auric alive. egg with its different layers of substance combined each with the others, like the closed petals of the lo- The Mystical Significance of ‘AUM’: As to the tus flower. The jewel within the lotus is the diamond pronunciation and significance of this mystic heart, the ‘Vajradhara’, as the initiate of ancient days syllable OM or AUM: either way of writing this was called — a mystical term signifying the word in European characters is correct, and the expression in action of the inner god, the meaning is practically identic. divine radiance or flame, sparkling, The pronunciation, however, is not glorifying, and vivifying the one the same. OM is pronounced O-M, through whom it shines. but AUM is A-U-M, the two It is small wonder that Tibetans of vowels being sounded distinctly, all classes, whether quasi-initiates and the M in both cases sounded or merely the vast rank and file vibrating within the skull. The of the populace, have cherished sectarian, modern Brahmanical this invocation and recite it with the spiritual longing arising in the aspiring soul. It is a way of saying, just The Sanskrit character for the sound ‘Aum’ SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 5 devotee will say that AUM is emblematic of the themselves all useless. What is important is to know, three persons of the Hindu triad, Brahma, Vishnu, and knowing to do. and Siva; but this is a lame attempt to explain in what we may call ecclesiastic fashion something Sound - The Language of the Gods: To one who more profound. knows, sound is perhaps the most important factor A-U-M — spelling and pronunciation and sound in cosmic workings. As H.P.B. has written in her — is the higher form of the word, and is perhaps Secret Doctrine (I, 464), the "magic of the ancient the more effective when one knows how properly priests consisted, in those days, in addressing their to sound it; OM is the simpler of the two, and in the gods in their own language … sound being the most beginning equally effective. potent and effectual magic agent, and the first of the keys which opens the door of communication The vowel O, or the fluid diphthong A-U, combined between Mortals and the Immortals." Verily it is with the sounding of the M within the skull, have a so. We must learn to talk the language of the gods particularly strong effect upon the human aura; and before we can confabulate with them; learn to when the aspiration is high, and the heart lifted with control the elemental beings before we have mastery reverence and love, and the mind itself is allied with over them. We must learn to reach the hearts of our the sun, the influence of the 'sounding of the word' fellow humans before we can ever help them. And can be very great. It stills, calms, and refines the this speaking the language that is understood is, entire sphere of the auric egg, so that the differing above everything else, through the instrumentality vibrational periods in separate portions of the auric of sound, the great magic agent in the universe. egg are reduced to one harmony. Then the inflow For everything that is, great and small, visible and from the god within is easy; and, at such times, a invisible, sings a song of life, and this is its vital man may receive the very inspiration of divinity. keynote; and if one can strike that keynote, he has mastery over it. The Jews also had a word of somewhat similar But let us beware of black magic, and touch not the character, used by their initiates in much the same individuality or destiny of any other than ourself. way, and this was 'Amen — the common Amen. The magic potency of sound is widely known. Political orators, the orators in the churches, sway More important than the correct pronunciation the hearts and minds of multitudes, and do it not is the sounding of the word. That verily can work necessarily by words, though greatly by words at magic if rightly done: its correct pronunciation times, but by sound and intonation. combined with the proper reverberating resonant Those who teach the Law, the Dharma, however, sounding made by one who understands, works use the wisdom and knowledge that have been magically.
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